Feds launch major meth sweep in Madison, Oneida counties

SYRACUSE -- On Tuesday, 24 individuals were indicted as a result of a year-long investigation into the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine in Madison, Oneida and Oswego counties.

The raids began occurring Tuesday morning and continued throughout the day. Evidence collection tents and law enforcement officials in hazardous material protective gear were seen at residences on Center Street in Durhamville and Canal Street in Oneida.

Hartunian described the meth labs as being highly dangerous operations that utilize a one-pot method of cooking the meth called "shake and bake," which involves mixing a number of "unstable ingredients" in a two-liter soda bottle.

Ingredients can include camping fuel or engine starter fluid, which can create a fiery explosion that "can lead to disfigurement, blindness and even death" for individuals involved, he added.

It's a danger to those who produce it, but also a danger to the whole neighborhood, said New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico. "This is such bad stuff."

The joint investigation involved officers of the DEA, Oneida City Police Department, Oneida Indian Nation Police, Madison County Sheriff's Department, District Attorney's Offices of Oneida, Oswego and Madison counties, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Marshals Service.

Prosecutions are being handled by assistant United States Attorney Carl Eurenius. "A lot of these defendants are connected socially," said Eurenius. "It's a tight-knit association."

Both Eurenius and Hartunian declined to speculate who were the cooks and who were the distributors, and said that there was no clear "leader" of those arrested.

In a statement released by the United States Attorney's office, it was noted that those indicted represent some of the largest area manufacturers, distributors and users of the illegal drug in Central New York.

According to John Duncan of the U.S. Attorney's office, the amount of pseudoephedrine possessed by each defendant varies, but the number of pills generally reached into the thousands.

Duncan explained that pseudoephedrine once was easily available over the counter, but with the uptick of methamphetamine production, drugstores keep records of individuals' names and how much they purchase.

Duncan said law enforcement agents were able to zero in on the defendants by examining store records in the three-county area. They found the defendants, or people acting on their behalf, were traveling from store to store in order to buy a little at a time that would eventually add up to a large stockpile.

"The combined efforts put forward by local police departments, sheriff's offices, New York State Police and federal agencies is a sign of how seriously we take the problem of meth labs. We have seen a growing number of meth lab dumps across the county," said Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley.

"The dangers of manufacturing meth and the disposal of the items used to manufacture create a grave risk for any citizen that comes in contact with it. This raid today will hopefully send a clear message that law enforcement in Madison County will be making this a top priority," Riley said.

As of Tuesday evening, individuals arrested by law enforcement were booked at the Federal Building, arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew Baxter and being transferred to various holding facilities in the area. Detention hearings are expected to take place later this week.

At a federal detention hearing, a judge may release a defendant, providing certain conditions are met, or decide to detain them until trial. If convicted, they each face a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

In addition to the drug charge, Casey Spadter is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.